Strategic Plan 2015 – 2020

Approved by the Sail Nova Scotia Board of Directors October 14, 2014 Approved by Membership at the Sail Nova Scotia AGM, November 21, 2014

Sail Nova Scotia Mission

To make high performance sailing and recreational boating lifelong activities for Nova Scotians through excellence in competition and training.

Summary

The 2015 Sail Nova Scotia Strategic Plan is a framework for improving and directing the Association for the next 5 years. It has been constructed on five strategic priorities – Programming & Opportunities for All, Governance & Brest Practices, Technical Leadership, Communication, and Club Growth & Development. Since its beginning in 1976 as the governing body of sailing in Nova Scotia, Sail Nova Scotia has a history of providing its member clubs and sailing schools with the support and leadership to make sailing a leading sport in the province.

This plan outlines a set of Priorities and Multi-Year objectives designed to help Sail Nova Scotia focus on activities that will enable it to continue to be a leader in the province. This Plan is the outcome of a year of work consulting with sailors and power boaters at member clubs and schools across the province and input from Sail Nova Scotia Board members.

Each of the five Strategic Priorities has been given a set of multi-year objectives to guide the Sail Nova Scotia Board, Committees, stakeholders and staff.

Each objective will be assigned to an individual or committee to develop a plan demonstrating how they intend to deliver on their strategic responsibilities. When the Plan is approved by the General Membership at the 2014 Annual General Meeting, it will be evaluated on an annual basis by the Board of Directors.

As part of the annual review process the Board will be tasked with ways to evolve the priorities and objectives and evaluate the effectiveness of existing ones. This review may lead to adjustments that will help the association to evolve and achieve its goal to continue to be a leading Provincial Sport Organization in Nova Scotia.

Strategic Objectives

Five strategic objectives aimed at both supporting healthy life-long sport participation and developing athletes who achieve international success emerged from meetings with members and reviewing programs, statistics, and trends. In addition, safety was identified as an overlying principle of all the strategic objectives. It is expected that current and new programs will recognize the importance of safety and ensure it is the highest priority. The 5 Strategic Objectives are:

1 - Programs & Opportunities for AllTo provide new opportunities for adults and youth to participate in sailing for the fun and enjoyment of the sport. In addition, create opportunities that will retain those who were previously participating but are no longer. This objective was identified as the greatest potential for growth of the sport. Opportunities exist to both introduce new participants and retain existing ones. Specific areas identified wereregattas, training groups, and female programming.

2 - Best Practices & GovernanceA thorough review of the association by-laws, policies and operations to ensure that Sail Nova Scotia continues to be an effective sport leader in the province. As well, practices in working with our clubs to collect accurate participant data and membership and program fees will be reviewed and improved upon.

3 – Technical LeadershipStrong competent leaders are essential to delivering quality programs, competitions and training opportunities to sailing participants. Likewise, participants experience in sailing is affected by the quality of our leaders. Leaders include; Sailing Instructors, Race Coaches, Race Officials, and volunteers. Increasing the number of leaders in identified new areas as well as in existing areas will be a focus.

4 – CommunicationCommunicating the value of Sail Nova Scotia to members and clearly outline and define the role it plays in the development of the sport is essential. New communication tools and strategies will be developed. Essential to any communication strategy is making a connection with members including those who power-boat.

5 – Club Growth & DevelopmentSupporting clubs and schools and sharing of best practices is an important mandate of Sail Nova Scotia. Across the province Sail Nova Scotia will support programs that increase capacity in the areas of cruising, power-boating and racing. It is recognized that hosting of national and international regattas is an important part of sport development in NS and Sail Nova Scotia will seek out opportunities for our clubs to host events.

Developing the Plan

In December 2013 the Sail Nova Scotia Board identified that a new strategic plan was required as the previous one “expired” earlier that year.

Meetings with clubs, schools, sailors, coaches, instructors across the province took place from February 2014 through June 2014. Results from those meetings were then compiled and presented to the Sail Nova Scotia Board in September 2014.

There was discussion about the identified Multi-Year Objectives at the September Board Meeting where the Board identified whether the Objective was High Priority, Medium Priority, or Low Priority.

Next Steps

In October 2014 the Plan will be circulated to all member clubs, and schools and final input solicited.

The Board will then present the final version for ratification at the November 2014 Annual General Meeting of the Association.

The impact of this Plan will begin to take shape early in 2015 and will be implemented over a 5 year period.

Multi Year Objectives

1 – Programs & Opportunities for All

#

Objective

Priority

Outcome

Responsible

1

5 % Membership Increase

High

125 New Members

2

New Regatta with 100 boats

High

100 boat regatta

3

Sail All program across NS

High

10 schools in 3 regions

4

CANSail program across NS

High

All LTS programs using CS

5

Transition for Dinghy to Keelboats

Medium

Program and Strategy developed

6

Sail Canada Cruise program equivalencies by RYA

Medium

Discussions held with RYA

7

Healthy Fleet of 49ers in NS

Medium

10 49ers training here

8

Increase in Offshore Racing

Medium

5 Offshore Races held

9

Performance at 2024 Olympic Games

High

Olympic Medal

10

Kite Provincials

Low

10 Kite sailors at Provincials

11

Development of One-Design keelboats

High

2 annual regattas and clinics

12

New fleet development

Low

Training groups for skiff, cats, kites.

13

Keelboat Racing Circuit in NS

Medium

Circuit established in 3 regions

14

Paralympic Sailing

High

Paralympic Training Centre established.

15

Keelboat regattas

High

Signature keelboat event in 3 regions

2 – Best Practices & Governance

#

Objective

Priority

Outcome

Responsible

1

Measures in place to collect participant data

High

All clubs reporting 100% of members and participant data

2

Board Assessment & Audit

Low

Review of Board Practices and updated by laws

3

Increase Sponsorship & Advertising Revenues

High

$50,000 annually

4

Support club and schools through sharing best practices

High

Establishment of Atlantic Sailing Conference

5

Input to Federal Policies affecting boaters

High

Committee established to provide input

6

Review of Board Policies

High

Board policies reviewed and shared

7

Change in Board structure

High

Board to become Policy based, no longer operational

8

HR Support to Clubs without staff

Medium

Manuals and procedures developed to assist

3 – Technical Leadership

#

Objective

Priority

Outcome

Responsible

1

Increase in # of female coaches and officials

High

25% increase. 12 more female coaches, TBD more Race Officials

2

More Learning Facilitators in Province

High

At least one LF in each of the three regions

3

Increase # of NSST Coaches

High

2 full time coaches

4

Club Race Officer at each club with racing

Medium

3 CROs at each club with racing

5

Kite Officials development

Low

1 Kite Official in province

6

More active race officials

Medium

Program in place to encourage mentoring

7

Training opportunities for power boaters and keelboats in Cape Breton

High

1 annual keelboat and power boat training seminar in CB each year

4 – Communication

#

Objective

Priority

Outcome

Responsible

1

Development of Communications Plan

High

Plan developed and shared with members

2

E-Newsletters

Medium

Provincial and Regional editions

3

Connect with members through Communications

High

More hits, traffic to website, newsletter opens, etc..

4

Engage Power Boaters

High

Dedicated communications for power boaters.

5 – Club Growth & Development

#

Objective

Priority

Outcome

Responsible

1

Cruising Activity

High

Support & encourage cruising across NS

2

Increase in # of Rules Seminar

High

One annually in each of three regions

3

Increase in member clubs

High

3 new member clubs

4

Explore bareboat charter companies

Low

Potential Companies identified

5

Bid on World Championships

High

1 Worlds in province every 5 years

6

More events for 49ers

High

49er FX North Americans held in NS

7

Develop guide listing upcoming hosting opportunities

High

Guide developed

8

More professional sailors

Medium

Guide developed to showcase what’s involved in being a professional sailor